My scream makes Seth spin with sharp claws outstretched and he knocks the owl from the air just above him. The creature rolls along the forest floor and shifts as she rights herself. In a second, she is standing on two legs, the same woman that bit into me this morning.

  Oh, no.

  Fear cripples me, and I can’t push myself forward. I didn’t know that the attack affected me so much, but I was clearly wrong. Bree grabs me again and tries to break into my foggy mind, but my eyes are locked on Seth’s battle with the demon chick.

  Seth’s back arches and cracks, causing my heart to stop beating momentarily. He’s dying! A gasp leaves my mouth, but Bree jumps in front of me. “Maia. He’s just shifting into his wolf form. He’ll be stronger this way, okay?”

  She can clearly see that I’m freaked, but nothing could’ve prepared me for this moment. Seth bends and twists in impossible ways before his clothes rip off of him as his body forms into a large furry black wolf. It’s not a gradual change, but fast and loud.

  He stalks toward the bruxsa with his sharp teeth flashing in the moonlight. Even though Seth’s wolf is absolutely terrifying, I’m drawn toward it. No fear fills me while I watch him lunge for the creepy demon lady. Instead, I feel pride for my strong and powerful protector. So cool.

  My dad’s loud grunt brings my attention to the side of the house. To my astonishment, Dad is wielding a long and sleek sword as he battles another skinny pale lady, looking like a twin of the other, but older. He slices through the air like a pro, cutting through the creature’s wrist and severing her hand from her body. A sickness fills my belly, but Bree’s loud words bring me back to her.

  “I’m sorry about this, Mai. I’ll find you, alright?”

  Bree’s words fill my mind, confusing me. “What are you talking about?”

  Her eyes are closed and she chants in the same old language she had before when we traded bodies. She lets go of my arms and holds her hands in front of her. The wind picks up around us, and becomes swirls of smoke, spinning around together. In the center of the spinning smoke, a hole forms, showing a separate section of the forest, like a window. Snow doesn’t litter the ground here, wherever this new place is, but I can feel the chill just the same.

  “What is that place, Bree?” This is a portal to somewhere, as crazy as that sounds. I’ve seen enough sci-fi movies to know that much.

  Bree looks sadly at me, and her eyes land on a scene behind my head. I turn toward the backyard where the wolf-Seth now fights two separate bruxsa ladies. He takes a hit to the snout, and falters. One of the women shifts into an owl and begins clawing at Seth’s back with her long talons.

  “No, Seth!” I call out for him, worried, but my voice becomes a surprised shriek when Bree pushes me from behind, through the now large portal.

  I fall onto my butt, hitting a dirt path in the middle of nowhere, but my eyes look back through the portal at Bree’s sorry expression. “Stay hidden, Mai! I’ll get you after we secure the house. Please stay safe!”

  I try to argue, but a harrowing howl reaches me from the other side of the portal as the circling smoke swirls slam together, leaving just a fading mist in front of me. My breathing is erratic, and I look around the woods that surround me.

  “Where the hell am I?” I ask out loud.

  “You’re in my territory, love. And that’s a big problem.”

  The deep voice makes me jump and I spin to see the tall and lean man looking down at me from only a few yards away. His black hair is flipped perfectly on top of his head, and his pale skin shows every defined muscle beneath the surface. The man licks his lips, and when he smiles, two sharp fangs glisten back at me.

  My heart sinks at the sight of him. There’s absolutely no way this is happening to me, but somehow, I turned eighteen yesterday, and within twenty four hours, I got stalked by a werewolf, attacked by a bruxsa demon, and thrown through a portal by my witch BFF. And, my incredible luck has landed me at the feet of a friggin’ vampire? No, he can’t be a vampire, right?

  The pale dude smiles wider, and I blanch. No way is this dude reading my mind right now!

  His thick British accent practically caresses me as he speaks again. “Sorry, love, but it’s true. Your luck is absolute crap.”

  Chapter 6

  ⟣⟡⟢

  Maia

  I’m face to face with a bloodsucking vampire. Just be calm, Maia. I try to steady my racing heart, but even my training in fighting can’t help me in this situation. I mean, it’s a real freakin’ vampire!

  Why does it always have to be something that sucks blood? Can’t I ever be attacked by a bunny shifter for goodness sake? Though, this dude is way sexier than my last bloodsucking attacker, the bruxsa. I admire him appreciatively, even though my body is screaming at me to run.

  The vamp guy raises an eyebrow as he steps closer to me where I still sit on the forest floor. I landed right on my butt after my bestie, Bree, pushed me through a portal to who-knows-where. Sexy vamp guy leans down, and his face is only inches from mine. His sharp fangs flash at me as he smiles.

  Run, Maia! Stop checking the guy out!

  “Didn’t we already establish that I can read your mind? Will you stop thinking about touching my body? It’s incredibly distracting, love.”

  My eyes go wide and a hot red blush fills my cheeks. Gosh dang it. That’s embarrassing.

  “I… I’m sorry. I can’t exactly control my thoughts.” I look away from his piercing blue eyes. “If you could just point me in the direction of Stowe, Vermont… that’d just be peachy.” I look back at him with a forced smile.

  The vamp grins wider and reaches a hand out to me. “You’re just adorable, aren’t you?” He grabs my hand and hauls me to my feet easily. “My name’s James, and I’m not going to kill you or drink your blood.”

  Oh, so a sweet and cuddly British vamp?

  James laughs, the rich sound intoxicating as he hears my thoughts. “Something like that,” he says and finally releases my hand. “Though, you are on my land, and interrupted my hunt.” He inhales my scent and his eyes flash red briefly before returning back to their deep blue. “What are you exactly?”

  I run my hands together nervously. I might as well be honest since he can read my mind if I lie. “I’m half human, and half wolf shifter, I guess.”

  “You guess? Are you unsure?”

  I shake my head. “I wasn’t told about the supernatural world until… Well, yesterday actually.” Gosh, what a loooong weekend. “My father is human, and he raised me that way. I just turned eighteen, and for some reason I was attacked by a bruxsa demon. I guess Dad couldn’t hide the truth after that.”

  James scrunches his nose in disgust when I mention the bruxsa demon. “Those demons are revolting. I am sorry you had to endure that.” He reaches a pale hand out to stroke my cheek, and his eyes narrow. “Are you sure of who you are? Granted, you’re the first half breed I’ve had the pleasure of meeting, but something is… off about you.”

  I scoff and roll my eyes. “Yeah, you’re not the first one to find me strange.”

  James smiles at that. “There’s nothing wrong with strange, love. All the best creatures are.” He gestures to himself. “Take me for example.” He winks.

  I can’t stop my own smile, and I might just be deranged, but I really like this guy. “Well, I’m Maia. It’s surprisingly nice to meet you, James.” I look around at the tall trees and thick brush surrounding us. “Do you mind pointing me toward home?”

  “You said Stowe, correct?” I nod. “Well, there’s a bit of a problem with that. You are just shy of five hundred miles northeast of Stowe. No civilization nearby. How’d you get all the way out here on my land, Maia?”

  My face pales. Five hundred miles northeast? I’m in Maine! I cover my face with my hands, officially freaking out now. “Why on earth would Bree drop me off in the middle of the Maine wilderness? I’m going to kill that girl!” I growl behind my hands.

  I peek through my fingers at James and his eyes are wide. A small, much less cocky smile graces his lips as he begins to nod. “Bree Zoran? The little witch?”

  I drop my hands and step closer to James. “Yes! She’s my best friend! How do you know Bree?”

  James smiles wide now, and he grabs me by the shoulders, lifting me from the ground and into his thick arms. I squeal and push against him, but he’s like a stone wall. “What are you doing? Let me go!”

  He just laughs and then cradles me like a baby in his arms. “Sorry, love, but if Bree sent you, then it’s my duty to see you protected. Hold onto me, now.”

  I hesitate, but when he lurches forward at the speed of light, I tighten my grip around his neck and bury my face in his neck. He moves us so fast that I can’t even take in a breath, and when we stop, I’m gasping for air. What the hell?

  I jump out of his arms, but immediately regret it as I stumble to the dirt and the world spins around me. It feels like I just spent an hour spinning in a circle and then stopped too quickly. “Holy hell, I’m going to be sick.”

  James drops beside me and grabs me around the waist. “I’m sorry about that, love. I guess you haven’t come into your abilities quite yet.”

  I groan and close my eyes, fighting back the headache that’s threatening me. “I don’t have any abilities, James. I’m just a girl.”

  He chuckles and lifts me from the ground. I’m carried into a building of some sort and James places me on a soft bed. My heart rate picks up and my breath becomes shallow. I’m completely disoriented, with a total stranger in the middle of nowhere… and now I’m on a bed. This is the type of situation that I should not be in. Please don’t take advantage of me.

  James growls beside me and then he lets me go. My eyes focus on him as he stands with flexed arms crossed in his tight black shirt. His eyes are narrowed at me and his foot taps angrily. “I’m not going to rape you, Maia. Have I given you that impression in the five minutes you’ve known me?”

  Right. Mind-reader.

  I shrug. “I’ve heard that it’s always the charming ones, and I really don’t know anything about you yet.” I feel guilty from judging him so quickly. He knows Bree, and she sent me to him, so he can’t be all that bad. “I’m sorry,” I mumble, feeling like a jerk.

  James kneels in front of me on the wooden floor and I look around the small room. It looks like a log cabin, built by hand. A small fireplace lights the room from the corner, and the furniture is just a desk, a wooden chair, and the bed I sit on with black silk sheets.

  Charcoal artwork lines the walls, with drawings of the outside forest, some random beautiful women, and my eyes land on a drawing of Bree maybe a year younger than she is now. A soft smile graces her lips and she looks longingly at nothing in particular. It’s a beautiful piece.

  James grabs my hands and I’m torn from the drawings, back to him. “I was once a child, just like you were. Then, I became a killer, walking among the dead.” I gulp. “I have done unspeakable things, and fought in wars filled with death and trauma. But, like you, I’m not normal. You’ve heard stories of my kind, I’m sure. But, I swear on my own grave, love, if the little witch trusts you in my care, I will never harm you in any way.”

  Holy crap.

  He stands, releasing me and walks toward the door. “Now, you sleep. At dawn, we leave for Stowe.”

  Chapter 7

  ⟣⟡⟢

  Seth

  Blood drips from my wolf’s teeth, and I scan the large manicured yard for any more threats. Maia’s father is standing above a dead bruxsa demon, a sister to the one I just killed. His sword hangs limp in his hand as he pants from the fight. The third demon lay split in two large pieces on and off the tall porch where I had seen Maia only minutes ago.

  But now she’s gone?

  My wolf growls low, feeling possessive of the girl we only met this morning. Find. He rumbles the word in my mind in his usual caveman way, and I agree. Yes, we need to find her. My body cracks and shifts back to my human self, and on two feet I run toward the porch, past the bruxsa corpse.

  As I reach the top step, my eyes fall on Bree, the witch best friend, Maia’s protector. She is unconscious and a large gash in her side is oozing blood. “Dammit!” I shout, and my wolf immediately surges to the surface.

  I push him down and crawl over to Bree. She coughs, and looks up at me. “I sent her away. She’s safe,” she chokes the words out and gasps as a bright glow comes from her wound.

  Maia’s dad rushes to us and grabs hold of Bree, pulling her onto his body. “It’s alright, Bree. I’ve got you. Just don’t fight the healing.”

  The healing?

  I stare at her wound as it continues to glow and slowly knit itself back together. “How’s she doing that?”

  Maia’s dad looks at me with worried eyes. “Her grandmother has strong healing magic. She puts shields on her descendants so they can be healed when injured. Thankfully, this injury wasn’t worse or it might not be working.” He pulls Bree closer as she groans against the healing. “You must be Seth Lowell, the wolf protector? You’re completely naked, son.”

  I nod, not needing to look down at my body to know he’s right. “Yeah, sorry. It’s kind of a hazard of the job. Are we sure Maia is alright?” I don’t care that I’m naked. I’m starting to panic. The bleeding-to-death witch says Maia is safe, but how? Where is she?

  The man tilts his head, watching me curiously. “I’m Mathew. Thank you for your protection, but if Bree says she sent Maia somewhere safe, then I believe her. We’ll have to wait until she is healed before we can find out where, though.” His dark eyes are sad for his daughter. This man, Mathew, is surprisingly calm for a human faced with the supernatural. I can see Maia’s bravado in him.

  How have I only known this girl for a day and I can’t clear my mind of her for even a second? I need to find her. I look down at Bree, but she is unconscious again as her body heals. Finding Maia will need to wait.

  ♢♢♢

  Maia

  I toss and turn all night in James’ bed. I need to know if my family is okay. Last I saw of Dad, he was fighting the bruxsa with a sword, and it looked like he was winning. Gah, I hope he won.

  And then there was Seth in his wolf form. He was so incredibly powerful, and I bet he could take down any creature. Still, I can’t help the pang in my gut at the thought of him being hurt. And as for Bree, I’m mad at her for pushing me away when I could’ve tried to help. Maybe I’m too frail to battle demon creatures, but I don’t need to be forced away. I want to see them all again.

  “Hey, love. Would you like some breakfast?” James stands at the door to the small cabin. His mouth is curved in a half smile and he has a plate in his hands, piled high with fried eggs.

  I run my fingers through my tangled hair. Stop trying to look cute for the vampire! I yell at myself in my mind and then my eyes bug out when I remember he can hear my thoughts. I look up at James and his cocky smile is back, fangs aglow in the orange firelight.

  I smack my hand over my forehead and silently curse at my girlish thoughts. “Thanks, James. I’d love some breakfast,” I murmur through clenched teeth.

  He laughs and brings me the plate of still steaming eggs along with a wood-carved fork. “Don’t worry about your thoughts, love. I’ve heard things that can’t even be repeated in a lady's presence. Your thoughts are refreshingly tame.”

  I shake my head, taking a bite of the delicious food. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until this moment. “I’m just sorry you’re stuck hearing everyone’s inner rambling. Isn’t it exhausting?”

  He sighs. “Why do you think I built a little cabin in the middle of nowhere? No people out here…” He eyes me, “Well, normally.”

  I take another bite of the breakfast and moan appreciatively. “Where did you get eggs all the way out here?” I probably should’ve questioned the eggs before digging in, but what’s done is done.

  James sits beside me on the bed, very close. “You’ve never had wild turkey eggs before? I hear they’re just like chicken eggs.” His eyes follow the food to my mouth and focus on my lips as I chew.

  I lick my lips. “Are you not going to eat?”

  He smiles again, his blue eyes finding mine. “I’m on a… special diet.” His eyes flick to my throat as I swallow. They flash red and then back to blue, so fast I feel like I imagined it.

  I nod in understanding. “Oh, right. I’m in the home of a blood sucking vampire in the middle of the woods… eating wild turkey eggs.” You can’t make this crap up.

  James laughs and stands from the bed. “The sun is rising now. Should we head out, love?”

  Love. I’m really starting to like that. Yeah, I know you can hear me, so shut it.

  I roll my eyes at his wicked grin. “You’re not going to carry me at lightning speed again, are you?”

  He shakes his head. “It would get us there significantly faster, but I don’t believe your human body could handle it. We’ll simply hike toward civilization and then borrow a car.”

  Relief fills me. “Good, ‘cause that sucked.” I stand from the bed and grab my leather jacket from the bedpost. I start to imagine the loneliness James must feel out here, but I hurry and try to change my thoughts so I don’t offend him.

  He grabs my hand, his skin cold against mine. “If you’re so worried about me being lonely, love, then you can stay longer and keep my bed warm.” His eyes lock onto mine and he stands in front of me with a hooded gaze.

  My breath hitches and I stutter. “I… I should get back to my family.” How is he so good at making me flustered?

  James leans in closer to me. “As you wish, love,” he says smoothly, his gaze falling to my parted lips. It’s gotta be the accent, right?